1st Salt Festival at Europe’s Oldest Salt Pans in Ston

A week-long festival dedicated to the ancient tradition of salt production with open in Ston in the south of Dalmatia next week.

The first Festival of Salt will be held from 27 August – 2 September 2017 at the Ston salt pans, which are the oldest in Europe and the largest preserved pans in the history of the Mediterranean.

Ston (Photo: Visit Ston)

“The idea of creating this festival in Ston was inspired by the salt story and the Dubrovnik Republic, which based its progress on, among other things, the production and trade of this important item in the diet of people”, organisers said.

Ston salt pans the oldest in Europe (Photo: Solana Ston)

Ston salt pans have remained unchanged since the 14th century and still today it is an important economic entity and a unique monument of culture and tourist attraction in the area.

Salt works in Ston (Photo: Visit Ston)

The tradition of harvesting salt has been passed on for over 4,000 years and since then salt is produced in the same way with only the assistance of the sea, sun, and wind. Ston salt pans consist of 58 pools divided into 5 groups as the whole sat producing process has to go through five stages which last one to two months depending on weather conditions.

Ston salt pans the oldest in Europe (Photo: Solana Ston)

There are nine pools for the crystallization process and all but one Mundo (world) are named after saints (Francis, Nicholas, Balthazar, Anthony, Joseph, John, Peter and Paul).

Next week’s festival will offer creative workshops, local crafts from Ston, Peljesac and Dubrovnik, lectures, and concerts.